A Terrifying, Deadly Storm Struck Montana In 1923 And No One Saw It Coming

Tornadoes are a phenomenon that’s typically associated with the Midwest, though they can occur anywhere—and they have certainly struck some surprising places, including Montana. Most of us will recall the deadly tornado of 2010 that unfortunately killed two people and injured a few more when it hit the Smith Ranch in Northeast Montana. But before that happened, we had the deadly tornado of 1923… and it was something no one saw coming.

On a Sunday in June in 1923, a tornado struck a logging camp in the Nine Mile Valley west of Missoula.

It is said to be the first recorded documentation of a tornado in Western Montana. There have been other documented cases of prior tornadoes in Montana dating back to 1883, but none that far west, and none that deadly.

Until July 26, 2010, that was the deadliest tornado-related storm in Montana.